title: Anorexia nervosa and nutritional assessment: contribution of body composition measurements.
abstract: The psychiatric condition of patients suffering from anorexia nervosa (AN) is affected by their nutritional status. An optimal assessment of the nutritional status of patients is fundamental in understanding the relationship between malnutrition and the psychological symptoms. The present review evaluates some of the available methods for measuring body composition in patients with AN. We searched literature in Medline using several key terms relevant to the present review in order to identify papers. Only articles in English or French were reviewed. A brief description is provided for each body composition technique, with its applicability in AN as well as its limitation. All methods of measuring body composition are not yet validated and/or feasible in patients with AN. The present review article proposes a practical approach for selecting the most appropriate methods depending on the setting, (i.e. clinical v. research) and the goal of the assessment (initial v. follow-up) in order to have a more personalised treatment for patients suffering from AN.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U669, Maison de Solenn, 97 Boulevard De Port Royal, 75014 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Lama
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mattar
authors.affiliation: Service de psychiatrie, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, 42 Boulevard Jourdan, 75014 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Godart
authors.affiliation: Unité de Nutrition clinique-Maladies infectieuses, Département de Médecine aiguë, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, 92380 Garches, France.
authors.forename: Jean Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Melchior
authors.affiliation: Unité de Nutrition, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil, 4, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pichard
mesh_terms: D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status